New Phone with a Good Camera for My Wife

PVA on 08/10/2025 - 19:42
Last edited 08/10/2025 - 21:09 by 1 other user

My partner says she wants a new phone … doesn’t care what it is as long as it takes great photos .. so what phone?

She has had a Samsung s21 since new, it was her choice of that phone, my son and I got s21Ultras (now s23Ultras). S21 she picked because of the size. For ages she has complained about it not taking good photos and said her old Sony took better (Sony isn’t sold in here anymore).

So what’s a good choice? She has a Samsung watch (4, I think) and Samsung tablet 10 but honestly she doesn’t care about brand at all. She wants good photos as number one.

Apps, well mainly Google ones .. messages, gmail, maps, YouTube etc and Facebook, messages, WhatsApp.

Photo backups are Google Photos and an app that backs photo to the hard drive plugged into our router (free app, no cloud)

She was talking to a friend and they were both taking the same photos .. the other phone was apple 16 pro max (she said 16 max so I guess it’s 16 pro max as she doesn’t know or care about models or brands) and said it took much better photos than her old one.

I asked if she wanted one like my s23 Ultra … answer ‘I don’t care as long as the camera is good’

Please , what’s a good photo taking phone? She really is point and shoot, will never go into pro settings .. so it’s zoom, portrait and general photo. Video is not very often.

Phones are so expensive , around $2k for pixel 10 max, much the same for iPhone and Samsung s25 ultra. Doesn’t have to be the latest model.

Mobile Mobile Phone

Comments

  • Far Cough on 08/10/2025 - 19:45
    +7

    just get an iphone 17 pro

    • jv on 08/10/2025 - 19:51
      -5

      or the amateur version.

      • tenpercent on 08/10/2025 - 20:09
        -2

        Depends how many subscribers

        • jv on 08/10/2025 - 20:09
          +2

          😲

    • Dr Phil on 09/10/2025 - 18:11
      +7

      But Samsung S21 takes great photos

      iPhone 17 wont make a noticeable difference to the average person.

      Either there is something wrong with the Samsung S21 or she is not wiping the camera lens clean before taking a photo (ie user error)

      Its actually a very common problem with all phone users

      I suggest OP grabs her Samsung 21, wipes the lenses clean and takes a few photos.

      Hopefully these "test" photos will be great.

      If not, do a backup and perform a factory reset which may also resolve the issue

      For disclosure: Im an iPhone user. So Im not favouring Samsung in any way
      Ive actually found Samsung S series take amazing photos. I just prefer Apple's iOS.

      PS She might NOT appreciate having learn how to use an iPhone (all over again)

      But to answer Op's question - any premium brand flagship model or any iPhone.

        • johnno07 on 10/10/2025 - 11:27
          +2

          This just means that you prefer the processing Apple is doing with iPhone photos. There are plenty of extremely capable Android phone cameras that at least meet if not exceed iPhone.

  • jv on 08/10/2025 - 19:53
    -1

    so what which phone?

    FTFY…

    jv on 08/10/2025 - 19:53 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
    • PVA on 08/10/2025 - 20:02

      Which phone..

      • jv on 08/10/2025 - 20:04

        yes

  • Morien on 08/10/2025 - 20:15
    +8

    Base iPhone 17 is regarded as a bit of a no brainer now. But if you want an even better camera the Pro line for sure.

    Both have 48MP sensors. Both have .5x 1x 2x optical zoom. Both have main lens and ultra wide lens.
    Pro has 4x 8x optical zoom, telephoto lens

    Both have same front camera, which is 18MP and has centre stage. Sensor is square, so can take portrait or landscape selfies regardless of how you hold the phone, and will automatically crop if more people jump into your selfie with you.

    Apple intelligence isn't as good as Samsung's AI for photos. So Samsung will do a better job of removing a hand and filling in the blanks. Not overly important if you want a real photo, though.

    Base starts at $1397 at Officeworks.
    Pro starts at $1997 at Officeworks.

    • PVA on 08/10/2025 - 21:34

      Thanks. . The iPhone 17 pro and max is actually 4x optical zoom and they are marketing by binning/reducing the sensor size then it means it’s 8x optical … but that’s just not true… their 8x is marketing lies.

      With the base 17, it has a lesser processor and less ram .. does that make much of a difference compared to the pro (or even 16 pro and max)?

      • Morien on 08/10/2025 - 22:42

        Oh, is that so? I see.

        Lesser processor, but still a pretty awesome one. Lesser ram, but the same amount as the 16 pro. So from what I've read, only reason to go 16 pro over 17 is if you prefer titanium. But only difference the extra ram in the 17 pro will make it to future proofing and higher end stuff like 4k 120fps raw video.

        She'll be more than fine with the base 17.

        Remember you can buy both from Apple direct and have 2 weeks from the date of purchase to return the one you don't like, even if opened and used.

        • bbinc on 09/10/2025 - 09:59

          Not only extra ram on the 17, but also double the base storage of the 16 pro for no extra price. Base model 17 now 256gb, and with the extra megapixels you might need the extra storage.
          If OPs wife takes and keeps lots of photos she might be safer getting the 512gb storage. Samsung nd others can take an SD card for extra storage, Apple doesn’t have that - I could become your only option.

          • renza on 10/10/2025 - 17:48

            @bbinc:

            Samsung nd others can take an SD card for extra storage

            Show me any 2025 flagship phone that has an SD card slot. Not Samsung that's for sure

      • freefall101 on 08/10/2025 - 23:21
        +5

        It sounds like you’ve researched this already, what did that suggest?

    • johnno07 on 10/10/2025 - 11:28

      Base starts at $1397 at Officeworks.
      Pro starts at $1997 at Officeworks.

      And for roughly the difference in price between those you can get an extremely capable mid-range shooter in the Pixel 9a. Flagship phone prices are pretty cooked these days.

  • Nillionaire on 08/10/2025 - 20:32
    +3
    • Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
    • Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
    • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
    • Morien on 08/10/2025 - 20:37

      I didn't specify in my comment because I'm not sure. Is there any difference in the cameras between the Pro and Pro Max this year?

      • Nillionaire on 08/10/2025 - 20:40
        +2

        Nope, they're the same according to this. I just personally value larger screens and battery life and assumed a photographer would too, if not the Pro and base are perfectly capable.

      • PVA on 08/10/2025 - 21:43

        Was there on previous years?

        • Morien on 08/10/2025 - 22:43

          I think there was with the 12, which was my last phone.
          Edit: Official specs show 12 PM had 2.5x optical zoom, whereas the 12P had 2x. Not sure if there were further differences that the official spec sheets don't mention.

        • MrFrugalSpend on 09/10/2025 - 18:21

          Yes

    • txb on 10/10/2025 - 08:35

      Dosent the pro xl have the same camera as the pro..?

      • Nillionaire on 10/10/2025 - 17:05

        Yes. The cameras are the same. The size and battery life are not the same. I value those and assumed a photographer would as well. If not, the non-XL Pro is perfectly fine.

    • ItsMeAgro on 10/10/2025 - 11:20

      Seems like the Pixel has really good AI features that can improve the photos too. This may end up mattering a lot more than slightly better lenses/CCDs, and probably already does?

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 08/10/2025 - 20:50
    +1

    17 Pro max, 2tb because she’s worth it

    • jv on 08/10/2025 - 21:26
      +3

      because she’s worth it

      and if she's not, then one of these…

      • nosey on 09/10/2025 - 19:00

        Lol

      • Daabido on 11/10/2025 - 12:09

        VGA? Luxury. I lived with CGA.

    • PVA on 08/10/2025 - 21:31

      Yeah, nah. She not worth that😀😀

      And she just agreed with me … unless it’s made out of gold.

      • Nillionaire on 10/10/2025 - 17:09

        unless it’s made out of gold.

        Ask her if Apple doing this would make it worth it cause it would for many women 😆

    • Ciderfizz44 on 11/10/2025 - 00:15

      Maybe it's Maybelline

  • try2bhelpful on 08/10/2025 - 21:07

    I would do a lot of Googling for opinions on what is out there. When looking to buy maybe join Costco and buy from them. You get a 90 day return policy so she can test out the phone to see if it is what she wants. We got the iPhone 15 Pro before we went overseas last year and I got some pretty good Northern lights shots.

    However, if she really wants to get good at photography she should look into photography apps and do the hard yards with setting up to take photos. Do a bit of Googling on what apps are considered worthwhile.

    To a certain degree I an sympathise with the missus because I got an upgraded phone before we went travelling last year mainly to be able to take decent photos of the trip. Generally my phone is a life support for the iPad and Apple Watch and a camera.

  • xpllmmff on 08/10/2025 - 21:11
    +2

    Just saw this Xiaomi 17 Pro Max phone review https://youtu.be/0jHtyF_rCqU?t=608 , using main camera at the rear for selfies while being able to see every posture/ facial look at its built-in rear screen (yes it is ture this phone is equipped with both front and rear screen ) is another level compared with traditional tiny front camera selfies

    Looking forward this phone could one day be officially available in Oz market, adding some extra spices to this dull market with only three major players.

    • PVA on 08/10/2025 - 21:28

      I saw this on Instagram. It’s not on their Australian store yet. It looks impressive but I don’t know if it actually is.

  • jv on 08/10/2025 - 22:50
    +4

    Have you considered just getting a new wife and saving the $2K ???

    • CodeXD on 08/10/2025 - 23:12
      +2

      You think a new wife is less than $2k?

      • jv on 09/10/2025 - 00:44
        +6

        Temu

        • TEER3X on 09/10/2025 - 06:46
          +1

          You're not looking at the big picture, that expense will just be a sunk cost

          • quick-dry on 10/10/2025 - 00:28
            +1

            @TEER3X: sunk cost? OP is planning on taking the new wife on a scuba honeymoon to Queensland?

            might be best to not get a waterproof camera phone then

          • Muppet Detector on 10/10/2025 - 21:12

            @TEER3X:

            You're not looking at the big picture,

            If he gets rid of the lady, he won't care what size picture her new phone takes because OP won't be buying it.

  • elgrande on 08/10/2025 - 23:26
    -1

    Iphone mini brand new

    • crentist on 09/10/2025 - 17:27

      Wish they still made the iPhone 13 mini, had mine for a few years.
      Anyway that's an older camera now, and even my Motorola Edge 50 Neo takes better photos. But worse videos :(

  • eug on 09/10/2025 - 00:50
    +5

    Maybe check out some blind camera comparisons. After all what matters is whether or not a photo looks nice, and not what the brand is or how many megapixies they have.

    MKBHD last made one a year ago. They took photos of the same subject with a whole bunch of phones, put them up unmarked on a website and people voted which ones they liked better. There were 20 million votes so that should count for something.

  • bargaino on 09/10/2025 - 03:50
    +3

    New Phone with a Good Camera for My Wife

    Please post photos of wife.

  • AustriaBargain on 09/10/2025 - 04:22
    +1

    iPhone probably the easiest way, if she doesn't care then you may as well make it easy. Of course you could buy a dedicated camera, one that makes it easy to view and extract the photos wirelessly from her phone. That would be the most annoying solution.

  • plapic on 09/10/2025 - 06:29
    +5

    Stick with Samsung eco otherwise she'll complain about integration.

    • mingofmongo on 09/10/2025 - 08:11
      +7

      This. It's a massive pain in the ass when one family member is on a different ecosystem to the rest of them.

      The cameras on the Samsung s25 are exceptional so that's what I'd be doing.

  • double_J on 09/10/2025 - 08:35
    +1

    Just wait for pre order Samsung S26U. Last time S25U came just under $1k during the pre order. It's all about the timing.

  • jacross on 09/10/2025 - 09:15
    +1

    Although I know this won't fly I feel I need to say it anyway.

    A small point and shoot camera will give much better photo quality for much cheaper.

    • PVA on 09/10/2025 - 11:25
      +1

      Thanks. She has a couple of digital cameras and we’d have an older Sony point and shoot that took great pics about the size of a pack of cards. But 99% of he time she only has the phone with her.

  • SnowDragon on 09/10/2025 - 09:46

    Sell her on Xiaomi and pickup a tablet and speaker at the same time https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/926334

  • bbinc on 09/10/2025 - 10:06
    +1

    She could read up on the benefits of a really small number f stop ((better low light shots), wide angle, optical zoom, etc on the 17 and 17 pro.

  • CodeXD on 09/10/2025 - 11:01
    +1

    https://www.dxomark.com/smartphones/

  • 7ekn00 on 09/10/2025 - 11:09

    Amateurs definition of "good" photo is often a blurry over colour saturated mess - so go with an iPhone or Pixel (both are tuned for that type of image)!

    Samsung by default gives a more true-to-life image, most amateurs do not call these images "good" when compared to what they see on socials (which is often over saturated over processed slop) :/

    • PVA on 09/10/2025 - 11:21

      Thanks.

      Well she also like her Sony 6100 camera but equally a digital camera that’s the size of a matchbox and takes terrible toy like photos.

      (And my son uses expired film and loves how, what I think, is extremely grainy and poor photos. 😀)

  • GeoffP on 09/10/2025 - 14:19
    +3

    I don't think she'd be able to sync her Samsung watch with an iPhone, so that could be a problem. If everyone else in the house had iThings, I'd say sure, get an iPhone. But since you're all using Samsung, makes no sense to me that you'd think of anything else, except maybe another Android brand. S25 Ultra photos are great IMHO

  • niknikniknik on 09/10/2025 - 18:46

    Have an S25 Ultra and the pictures seem worse than my previous S23 ultra. Not sure if the AI enhancements have changed or what it is but not a fan. My mates iPhone 13 pro takes better pics imo. Have used exclusively Samsung since I had an S3 but my next phone will likely be a pixel or iPhone. The camera delta is just too high, and other features such as the active S Pen don't make up for it anymore.

    • PVA on 09/10/2025 - 18:55

      Thanks for this and for being honest. I have an s23ultra and it seems fine, wife says it takes much better photos than her s21 base.

      Iphone might be a hard more, weve never had one (apart from my old ipad pro).
      Pixel just seems expensive… maybe i need to wait for the price drop.

    • CodeXD on 09/10/2025 - 20:36

      I found the camera between S25U and old S23U fairly similar, I couldn't really tell the difference between which was which.

      The best thing about S25U is the flat screen, much much better than the curved on S23U.

      • PVA on 11/10/2025 - 10:26

        Is the s24ultra a flat screen as well?

        • CodeXD on 11/10/2025 - 10:52

          I upgrade every 2 years or so, not sure about S24U.

  • sackrace on 09/10/2025 - 21:19

    Pixel 9a and pocket the difference.

  • unraga on 09/10/2025 - 21:29
    +5

    Are you comparing the photos on the same device, with the original file?

    If not you might also be comparing screens and display settings.

  • Nebargains on 09/10/2025 - 21:29
    +1

    Hmm if she was unhappy with the photos on the S21 then maybe it's the user and not the phone. Yes it's years old and many phones have superior cameras in terms of specs but a lot of the time in the right hands you can't tell the difference. I've got photos I took on an LG G6 back in like 2015 that you'd never guess were taken so long ago on such a phone. Also had an S20+ for ages and the camera was great, have a newer Samsung now and I think I prefer the camera on the S20+ despite being nearly 6 years old.

    • MrFunSocks on 10/10/2025 - 16:52

      I've got an S21 Ultra and a iPhone 16 Pro, and the iPhone's photos are significantly and noticeably better. The base S21 especially takes photos that don't look good compared to modern phone photos.

  • centurylegend on 09/10/2025 - 21:34
    -1

    Try foldable eg. Honor Magic v3, Samsung Fold etc

  • bygones on 09/10/2025 - 21:44

    I think the Pixel 10 Pro/Max could be a better choice. In terms of hardware, it’s not a good phone compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro/Max, but the camera software — or say, the Photo — is excellent. I think, the only good thing about a Pixel phone is its camera, compared to Sa25U or iPhone 17 Pro/Max.

    I had Samsung S25 Ultra, and my wife was using an iPhone 16 Pro Max. She often complained about the photos from her iPhone 16 Pro Max, probably because we messed up a few settings during initial set-up, and no matter what changes we made later, the photos never came out great. The S25 Ultra took great shots, but due to my poor photography skills, I often received complaints about the photos I took with it.

    Now I’ve switched to the Pixel 10 Pro purely for its photography capabilities, and my wife has upgraded to the iPhone 17 Pro. She is now happy with the photos from both phones. The use case also varies—we mostly take travel and family photos, and she makes TikTok/Reels. So our use case is similar to yours. And we are really happy with photos now. But if someone needs more advanced features like zoom, post-processing, or wants to adjust ISO/Exposure and other features, the S25 Ultra is a great choice. The iPhone 17 Pro also takes excellent photos. Sometimes photos from iPhone 17 Pro look better than Pixel 10 Pro. But it's not good to pay more than $1200-$1400 for S25 Ultra now.

    TLDR: Normal use case: Pixel 10 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro

    • PVA on 11/10/2025 - 10:22

      Thanks for the great reply. If I could get a s25U for $1300 I’d get it, but the pixel xl seems good … just need for a price drop.

  • BlahBlahBlaah on 10/10/2025 - 01:15
    +1

    100% agree on the camera quality of Sony phones, Iowned two of them when they were sold here and they were quietly better than any Samsung or Apple product at the time. An option could be to buy one of the latest Sonys from overseas? Otherwise, S25 Ultra is the way to go with the 200MP camera, and the 5x Optical Zoom

    • MrFunSocks on 10/10/2025 - 16:50
      -1

      Sony phone cameras are garbage. You get full "pro" controls but terrible results. You can just shoot RAW with iPhones and every other phone if you want to have to process your photos like you do with a Sony phone - and at least you'll have the better quality/details that the iPhone/Pixel/etc capture.

  • BuddhaBoy on 10/10/2025 - 08:44

    You will not go wrong with these -

    1) Base iPhone 17 (You just cannot beat the value, and yes….excellent photos and videos)

    2) iPhone 17 Pro (or Pro Max)

    3) Google Pixel 10 Pro (or Pro XL)

  • beedee101 on 10/10/2025 - 09:33
    +1

    Have we asked the question "What's an example of a bad photo?" - is it daytime or nighttime related, zoom related, those sorts of questions.. answer these and you might have a better idea which phone's camera photography system is best for your next phone..

  • AFOS on 10/10/2025 - 12:26

    I'm a big fan of compact phones and buy them almost exclusively (95%) for photography. That's really the only thing that matters to me in a phone. We take thousands of photos during holidays and use them as screensavers on our home TVs.

    I’ve used both the Samsung S22 and S23 because of their smaller size, but the photo quality was disappointing. Colors looked unnatural, night shots were barely usable, and any photo with the sun in frame came out over-contrasted. On their own, the photos aren't terrible, but compared to my Pixel 7, they’re just average. So I’ve decided to avoid Samsung phones altogether by now.

    As for Apple, the iPhone 13 mini is their smallest option—and my wife owns one—but again, the photo quality is pretty underwhelming. It's about the same as Samsung, or maybe even worse. The wide-angle lens distorts heavily and lacks autofocus.

    Personally, I would be leaning towards the Pixel 10 Pro because of:

    Its relatively compact size

    Autofocus on the front camera

    Autofocus on the wide-angle lens

    I’m not sure about other iPhones, but switching from Android to iOS doesn’t sound like a fun transition.

    P.S. If anyone spots a good deal on the Pixel 10 Pro, give me a shout—I'm on the lookout!

  • fossilfuel on 10/10/2025 - 13:35

    If you don't worry too much about grey imports, look into the Xiaomi 15 Ultra or Vivo X200 Pro. Comparison video

    I got mine from Wondamobile and they ship from HK. They use DHL so the phone arrives within 2-3 days. Just need to make sure you buy the international/global version or certain android features won't work. They're reliable and have a good warranty process.

    The cameras are way better than the stuff on the Australian market.

  • ggDropbear on 10/10/2025 - 14:44

    If everyone is team Android and want to keep the Samsung items, your best option is the base S25 which is usually on sale for $1000 or less and will be on heavy discount just before the release of the S26 in January next year. Best bang for buck you will get.

    "I need a bigger screen": S25 Plus.

    Now, is the iPhone 17 at $1400 a better phone? Yes: similar photos, way better video, slightly better battery and performance, and all the extra Apple features and security. But if you don't want to replace your entire ecosystem, not willing to relearn your muscle memory or hate the additional Apple tax, sticking with Android is a way better idea.

  • sajidmib on 10/10/2025 - 15:20

    Try some oppos they have some good cameras $600 a pop.

    HN JB TGG have it on display go test it out, take your wife with you, and let her choose herself so you not blamed down the line.

    • Nillionaire on 10/10/2025 - 17:18

      She already has an S21 Ultra which is likely better than a mid range Oppo. She wants a better camera, not simply a decent enough camera. OP also hasn't said his budget was midrange. If it was, there are Pixels available at that price range so no need to bother with Oppo.

  • da1andonly on 10/10/2025 - 15:22

    Camera quality is subjective now, all modern phones can take great quality pictures. It all depends on the user and lighting

  • MrFunSocks on 10/10/2025 - 16:44

    iPhones are pretty much universally agreed upon as taking the best photos these days, save for colour preference (which can be changed after the fact anyway), and for video they're still untouchable.

    Just get the newest iPhone Pro you can.

    • eug on 10/10/2025 - 17:05
      +2

      Apple would like you to think so, but MKBHD's blind phone camera test in 2023 showed when you remove the branding, preferences can be quite different. There were over 20 million votes so it should count for something.

      • Nillionaire on 10/10/2025 - 17:21
        +1

        Brilliant video, wish he made an annual thing.

    • Nillionaire on 10/10/2025 - 17:17

      iPhones are pretty much universally agreed

      Not sure where you're getting that impression from but that is not the consensus on YouTube nor Reddit nor my IRL experience. Apple has been ruling the video space for a long time but for photos Pixel and Galaxy S definitely compete. For simple point n shoot, I personally would consider Pixels as the best.

  • belongsinforums on 10/10/2025 - 18:09

    Pixel pro won't disappoint her with the 3 main cameras

  • Erwark on 10/10/2025 - 20:30
    +1

    My wife's Pixel 9 takes excellent photos pretty reliably. It doesn't make you work hard for lighting, etc.
    My S24 photos can be just as good, but require better lighting, etc.

    • PVA on 10/10/2025 - 20:45

      Thanks.

  • whyisave on 10/10/2025 - 23:34

    The Pixel phones have excellent cameras (with its computational photography software.

    Plus, the Pixel phones have eSIM + Nano-SIM, a minimal no-fuss design, 'lightweight' Android (compared to Samsung) ROM as well as excellent support for custom ROMs.

    My only gripe with them are no 3.5mm socket or MicroSD slot.

    So, for your needs, get a 2nd hand Google Pixel 8, for under $500,
    or even a refurbished Pixel 8 Pro, for a decent price.

    Heck, you can pick up 2nd hand Pixel 7 for $200+ (I got one recently).

    Personally, I don't accept all these newer released phones priced well into the high $1K, or even $2K ?!!?

  • OzzyOzbourne on 10/10/2025 - 23:37
    +1

    Does your S23 ultra take good photos? If the answer is yes then it's cheaper than the latest model, seems to be the obvious choice.

    • PVA on 11/10/2025 - 10:16

      Yeah, that’s probably a good answer as what I should do.

  • mrvaluepack on 11/10/2025 - 06:22
    -1

    Just buy her the highest rated phone on dxomark website to shut her up.

  • lothus777 on 11/10/2025 - 11:20
    -1

    Tell her to buy her own phone

  • dealsucker on 11/10/2025 - 17:57

    After using most Android phones along with my iPhone, samsung by far has the worst camera in a flagship by far and its not even close. I am currently using the iPhone 17 Pro Max and a Xiaomi 15 Ultra and I feel Xiaomi takes better photos than even the newest iPhone though not in all conditions especially mid lightning condition like inside house or in a room and the shutter speed is an issue. For an all round camera including video, nothing beats an iPhone.

  • Davo1111 on 11/10/2025 - 19:45
    +1

    … doesn’t care what it is

    Get this in writing

    • PVA on 11/10/2025 - 19:56

      😂

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